Improving competitiveness and protecting the environment must go hand in hand, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told a meeting of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris on Thursday.

Hungary is proud to be one of 21 countries that have achieved economic growth while reducing harmful emissions, Szijjártó said at the trade and sustainability meeting, according to a ministry statement.

Szijjártó stressed that Europe must not let its environmental protection measures put it at a disadvantage compared to its global competitors.

He also said that if the European Union were too strict with its partners on political regimes and environmental safeguards in trade agreements, it could eventually find itself in a position where “we cannot trade only with ourselves”, causing it to lose significant potential. For growth.

Szijjártó stressed that environmental protection should not be “held hostage” by any ideology or philosophy.

He also called for a fact-based debate on which energy sources can be considered clean and green, saying it was important to ensure a level playing field for nuclear power.

Investments in the peaceful use of nuclear energy should not be discriminated against, especially now that the energy security of many member states is at stake, Szijjártó said.

Source: MTI